HeyWhatsNew: Trump Looks to Buy TikTok, While Google Invests in Anthropic
Hey there, HeyUppers! This has been another week of exciting tech news. Let’s see what stories are making a splash this week, starting 24/03/2025.
Trump Offers to Reduce Chinese Tariffs in Exchange for TikTok
Early in his presidency, President Donald Trump raised import tariffs for many countries, including China. Trump also promised to ban TikTok in the United States due to the belief that the Chinese government was syphoning personal information from U.S. citizens. The ban lasted approximately two days in January earlier this year. Trump still believes that the Chinese government has ill intentions, therefore, he has given TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, until April 5th to find a non-Chinese buyer for TikTok or face a permanent ban on the app in the U.S.
To get the deal secured, President Trump stated that he would be willing to reduce the tariffs on the Chinese government in exchange for TikTok, which is used by millions of Americans.
Mind-Reading Chip Gives Man His Life Back
Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, has granted Noland Arbaugh a new lease on life. After a diving accident in 2016, Arbauagh was left paralyzed below the shoulders. In January 2024, he took the risk of having a mind-reading chip inserted into his brain. The chip translates his thoughts into commands, which gives him a little bit of his independence back.
The brain computer interface (BCI) works by detecting the small electrical impulses that are generated when humans think about moving, and translates them into a digital command. Initially, Noland was able to move a cursor on a screen simply by thinking about wiggling his fingers. Now, he can even play chess and video games.
Google Launches New AI-Powered Features
Google has rolled out new features across Search, Maps and Gemini that are designed to help users plan vacations. Google Search’s AI overview will now help users with trip ideas for certain regions or countries. A simple search like “plan a trip to Arizona with a focus on food spots”, allows users to easily view photos and locations on a map. Once the plan is saved, the Export button will either share the recommendation through Gmail or Docs, or save it to a custom list in Google Maps.
Gemini’s Gem feature is now also free for everyone. Gem is a tool that allows users to create AI experts for any task within Gemini, such as setting up a trip planner.
Netflix Co-Founder Funds AI Research
With the rapid speed at which AI is advancing, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings says we must continue to question the workings of the technology. To further this research, he has donated $50 million to his alma mater, Bowdoin College, to create an initiative on AI and humanity. The initiative aims to make the college a center for studying the risks of AI and to help students come to terms with the emerging technology.
Hastings compares AI’s growth to that of social networking platforms, saying that social media grew so quickly that many people did not have time to grapple with or understand how it might change human engagement. He says that AI will bring about more drastic change and that it’s important that we stay ahead of it this time.
Google Investments in Anthropic Bigger Than Previously Thought
Anthropic, a start-up tech company based in San Francisco, operates as an independent AI company. The Department of Justice recently revealed that Google owned a 14% stake in the company. Google has no board seats or voting rights, signalling that the proposed $3 billion total investment was due to Google aiming to stay ahead of the AI race. The DOJ’s initial proposal to force Google to sell part of its stock has been replaced with an order requiring the company to inform the court before making any further AI investments. This is done to relieve concerns about the monopolization of the AI industry.
This development also prompts reflection on the reliance of smaller tech companies on tech giants, the balance of power in the ecosystem and what impact this has on innovation.
That’s a wrap for this week, HeyUppers. We hope you enjoyed this week’s headlines. We’ll see you next week for more tech updates!
